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sandreline's reviews
196 reviews
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The nicest thing I can say about this was that it was an easy read. Because if it wasn't, I would have DNF'd it.
This reads very much like a YA. But there are explicit sex scenes, which muddies that.
Lore's entire personality is just "charge headfirst into danger, and somehow it turns out fine." Even though we were in her point of view, I got very little sense of her motivations. Her wants, her needs, her strengths and flaws. Her flaws, in particular, are minimal and go largely unaddressed.
I have no idea why everyone around her loves her so much.
She spent her whole life terrified of fae. They killed her father in front of her and oppressed her people. But when one (who has her imprisoned) tells her she can't go to a FESTIVAL, she pouts and then risks her life to steal cookies. I can't. I just can't.
I think she's supposed to be pragmatic and headstrong, but she just comes off as dumb and inconsistent.
And I thought they might set up a cute polycule. It's 2024, who even does love triangles anymore? But it's giving Rhysand and Tamlin, neither of whom I'm terribly fond of.
This reads very much like a YA. But there are explicit sex scenes, which muddies that.
Lore's entire personality is just "charge headfirst into danger, and somehow it turns out fine." Even though we were in her point of view, I got very little sense of her motivations. Her wants, her needs, her strengths and flaws. Her flaws, in particular, are minimal and go largely unaddressed.
I have no idea why everyone around her loves her so much.
She spent her whole life terrified of fae. They killed her father in front of her and oppressed her people. But when one (who has her imprisoned) tells her she can't go to a FESTIVAL, she pouts and then risks her life to steal cookies. I can't. I just can't.
I think she's supposed to be pragmatic and headstrong, but she just comes off as dumb and inconsistent.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Nightbitch should be required reading for anyone considering having a child. Shelve it right next to What To Expect When You're Expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
King Nyx by Kirsten Bakis
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"Remember you are safe. Your response is out of proportion to the facts. There is no danger except in your mind."
After the introduction, we meet Anna as a middle-aged woman. You quickly parse she is someone who has spent her life supporting the dreams of her husband, and man who, while perhaps good-intentioned, has a bumbling paternalism for his wife.
In Anna's point of view you hear all the excuses she makes for him. She is filled with a lifetime of guilt, shame, and inferiority, and that colors all her interactions with him.
This is where King Nyx excels. Exposing and subtly picking apart the relationships between it's characters. And that is the primary focus for the first half of the book.
After that is when it starts to fall apart. We fall into a mystery set up quite well in the beginning, but tied together a bit too cleanly at the end. Those meaty character interactions fall to the wayside for some gothic-mystery shenanigans.
The most disappointing aspect for me was that we didn't really get to see all that much growth from Anna. She is, ultimately, the same character we meet at the beginning.
Very strong start, but I wish this story had leaned more into its strengths instead of getting lost in its own mysteries.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
After the introduction, we meet Anna as a middle-aged woman. You quickly parse she is someone who has spent her life supporting the dreams of her husband, and man who, while perhaps good-intentioned, has a bumbling paternalism for his wife.
In Anna's point of view you hear all the excuses she makes for him. She is filled with a lifetime of guilt, shame, and inferiority, and that colors all her interactions with him.
This is where King Nyx excels. Exposing and subtly picking apart the relationships between it's characters. And that is the primary focus for the first half of the book.
After that is when it starts to fall apart. We fall into a mystery set up quite well in the beginning, but tied together a bit too cleanly at the end. Those meaty character interactions fall to the wayside for some gothic-mystery shenanigans.
The most disappointing aspect for me was that we didn't really get to see all that much growth from Anna. She is, ultimately, the same character we meet at the beginning.
Very strong start, but I wish this story had leaned more into its strengths instead of getting lost in its own mysteries.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Torture
Minor: Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
To temper expectations, I think this book was marketed poorly. If you want traditional romance beats, look elsewhere. This is not that. It is a fantasy story with a romance at its center, but I would not categorize this as "romance" or "romantasy."
That said, I adored every moment of the Emporer and the Endless Palace. If I were to pick two books to express the vibes I'd go with This Is How You Lose the Time War and... Wuthering Heights? Iykyk.
Beautifully written and thoroughly engaging.
That said, I adored every moment of the Emporer and the Endless Palace. If I were to pick two books to express the vibes I'd go with This Is How You Lose the Time War and... Wuthering Heights? Iykyk.
Beautifully written and thoroughly engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual violence and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoy this world so much. I think my main problem with this, though, was that I did not understand Houndstooth's frenzy for Hero. I don't think the reader was shown enough of their relationship to warrant his behavior, and it make him very unsympathetic.
Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I must admit, I have never read Jane Eyre. And I imagine whether or not you have will heavily influence your feelings on Salt & Broom.
As for me, I enjoyed it quite a bit! Jane is easy to love. She and Rochester have easy chemistry, which is the best sort. Although the book only takes place over a few days, their romance feels like a slow-burn.
"Cozy" is the predominant vibes, as is true with most witchy tales, with a dash of gothic thrown in. But everything feels very cohesive. The story doesn't go out of its way to try to explain the world.
An easy read to recommend! I'm not normally a fan of "retellings," so I'm happy I went a little outside my comfort zone!
ARC provided by NetGalley.
As for me, I enjoyed it quite a bit! Jane is easy to love. She and Rochester have easy chemistry, which is the best sort. Although the book only takes place over a few days, their romance feels like a slow-burn.
"Cozy" is the predominant vibes, as is true with most witchy tales, with a dash of gothic thrown in. But everything feels very cohesive. The story doesn't go out of its way to try to explain the world.
An easy read to recommend! I'm not normally a fan of "retellings," so I'm happy I went a little outside my comfort zone!
ARC provided by NetGalley.
The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I'm always looking for sapphic sci-fi so I was excited for this one. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm the audience for this book.
It's about people in their late 20s and early 30s, but is reads distinctly like a YA. None of these people feel like adults. Nearly everything is dialogue-driven which doesn't give you a feel for the internality of these characters. They're surface-deep, you simply know them by their identity-markers.
I enjoyed the "asides." I think they were a smart choice. They were well-executed and brought some much-needed life to the story.
Billie is the highlight of the characters. She's given the space to be messy and interesting.
This was a miss for me at 33, but I'm certain I would have absolutely eaten this up at 17.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
It's about people in their late 20s and early 30s, but is reads distinctly like a YA. None of these people feel like adults. Nearly everything is dialogue-driven which doesn't give you a feel for the internality of these characters. They're surface-deep, you simply know them by their identity-markers.
I enjoyed the "asides." I think they were a smart choice. They were well-executed and brought some much-needed life to the story.
Billie is the highlight of the characters. She's given the space to be messy and interesting.
This was a miss for me at 33, but I'm certain I would have absolutely eaten this up at 17.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
A fun little horror anotholgy! The stories strongly remind me of horror books I devoured as a kid. Ellis clearly has a strong grasp on the genre. I particularly enjoyed the little explanation after each story.
I had to skip "Hangnail" though. It was some strong body horror that I was not prepared for. Kudos, cause stuff like that does not normally get to me.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
I had to skip "Hangnail" though. It was some strong body horror that I was not prepared for. Kudos, cause stuff like that does not normally get to me.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's deeply gratifying to read a book by a writing team who clearly understands the craft of writing. Story structure, themes, motivations, etc. They know their characters, and they know the situations to put them in to give them the growth that they need. This story was a series of correct decisions and mindful writing. You can feel the intentionality.
As an erotic romance, Queen of Dreams shines. Sex is never superfluous. It never feels tacked on. Like a song in a musical, sex happens at the height of emotion and serves to either move the story or the characters forward.
Zanya and Sachi, in particular, feel like fully realized characters. Good at their core, but messy and not always reliable narrators of their own experiences. It gives them a life that I often find lacking in romance.
I love these characters and the world that has been built for them. ♥️
Tropes: Growly grumpy (x2) + bratty sunshine, found families (ofc), Queen of Darkness/Queen of Light, dragon shifter lol.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
As an erotic romance, Queen of Dreams shines. Sex is never superfluous. It never feels tacked on. Like a song in a musical, sex happens at the height of emotion and serves to either move the story or the characters forward.
Zanya and Sachi, in particular, feel like fully realized characters. Good at their core, but messy and not always reliable narrators of their own experiences. It gives them a life that I often find lacking in romance.
I love these characters and the world that has been built for them. ♥️
Tropes: Growly grumpy (x2) + bratty sunshine, found families (ofc), Queen of Darkness/Queen of Light, dragon shifter lol.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and Panic attacks/disorders
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0